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California teacher license transfer

How to transfer your teaching license to California

California has separate out-of-state pathways for Multiple Subject, Single Subject and Education Specialist credentials, with distinct experience and National Board branches.

Build my license plan See official sources

Starting point

Does California accept out-of-state teaching licenses?

An out-of-state license can open a path to California certification, but it does not transfer automatically. The state decides which certificate, endorsements, tests or additional requirements apply.

Your exact route can still depend on your license type, preparation, experience, subjects, grade levels and testing history.

How teacher license reciprocity works · Look up your current license

Keep your place

Your California application checklist

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Need a more specific list? Add your current state, subject, grades and experience.

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State review still applies

What can change your path

  • • Less than two years, two-or-more years and National Board certification use different branches
  • • Single Subject areas and Education Specialist specializations must correspond
  • • English learner authorization or other clear-credential requirements may remain
  • • Career-technical credentials do not transfer directly through these teaching-credential routes

What the state says

5 official sources

These facts come from official sources. The state agency still makes the final licensing decision.

Credential mapping

Elementary or self-contained teaching generally maps to Multiple Subject, departmentalized content teaching to Single Subject and special education to an Education Specialist specialization.

Experience branches

The core teaching-credential families publish separate routes for less than two years, two or more years and qualifying National Board certification.

Core evidence

Plan for degree, out-of-state credential, fingerprint and branch-specific experience or evaluation evidence.

Career technical education

California does not directly transfer an out-of-state vocational credential; an approved Designated Subjects program reviews eligibility based on the credential and experience.

Basic application fee

California publishes a $100 basic nonrefundable initial application fee. Online transactions add a $2.65 service fee; fingerprint and any program or document costs are separate.

State certification help

2 guides

01Application documentsSee the core records to prepare and who may need to send themOpen 02Application feeCheck the published amount and what it does not includeOpen

Why your details matter

State websites describe the possible routes. The right one for you can depend on your license, preparation, experience, subjects, grades, tests, National Board status and compact eligibility. TeachPassport uses those details to work out your path and handle the steps it can do for you.

One thing to know: The source license area identifies the California credential family; less than two years, two or more years and National Board certification can lead to different requirements, while career-technical credentials require review by an approved Designated Subjects program.

Plan the whole move

Questions to answer before you apply

The application is only one part of the move. Check the costs, timing and records that can hold up an otherwise complete file.

01What could this cost?Plan for state fees, records, tests and fingerprints.Read 02How long could it take?See what affects review time and when to start.Read 03Will my test scores count?Check prior Praxis scores before registering again.Read 04Will I need new fingerprints?Use the destination’s required process and vendor.Read 05How will my experience count?Prepare the verification the state actually accepts.Read 06Should I apply to jobs first?Work out whether the license or job offer comes first.Read

Common license moves to California

3 routes

01TX → CAFrom TexasOpen 02AZ → CAFrom ArizonaOpen 03NY → CAFrom New YorkOpen

Official sources

State agency material

California Commission on Teacher CredentialingMultiple Subject Requirements for Teachers Prepared Out-of-State (CL-561)California Commission on Teacher CredentialingSingle Subject Requirements for Teachers Prepared Out-of-State (CL-560)California Commission on Teacher CredentialingEducation Specialist Requirements for Individuals Prepared Out-of-State (CL-808)California Commission on Teacher CredentialingOut-of-State ApplicantsCalifornia Commission on Teacher CredentialingFee Schedule Information (CL-659)